The Two Matts

Sunak is isolated and facing certain defeat in a General Election as this week’s local results make clear. What is left for the embattled PM as he states catastrophe in the face? Should he go to the country now, or tough it out even as his own party plots against him? And what of Starmer… how much of this week’s election results is down to his political brilliance or the political incompetence of his opposite number? All this and more as the Matts dissect the agitated state of British politics today… enjoy!LISTENER OFFER! https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/

In this Sunday Q&A edition of The Two Matts, the pair try to your questions on everything from Rishi's Rwanda Bill to Sam Smith and whether a new legal age needs to be set, to buy the Daily Mail. Subscribe to The New European today! https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/

What is England? What is Englishness? The Matts are joined by Tom Baldwin and Marc Stears, authors of a fascinating new deep dive into the question of nationalism, called England - Seven Myths That Changed A Country And How To Set Them Straight. It’s a wide-ranging conversation on their journey from Runnymede to Hull via Plymouth, Wolverhampton, Oxford, Blackpool and Greenwich to discover the real England. Enjoy!Subscribe to The Two Matts: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/

Have the Matts ever been victim to a honeytrap? What is a 'Police and Crime Commissioner' and should we bin off first names for MP's? This and more discussed in this weeks Q&A.Exclusive listener offer >> https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/

The Matts get philosophical about smoking and what a ban means for Britain. Whisper it… but has Rishi Sunak done something not completely crap for once? Or is his proposed age-related ban on smoking the start of slippery slope towards big government invading the rights of its citizens? Also … the magnificence of Salman Rushdie’s response to 27 seconds of madness which saw him lose and eye and almost die less than two years ago. This week he is back with a Knife of his own - the title of his book centred on that awful attack. It’s not just a triumph of the will to live, says Matt D’Ancona; it’s a remarkable love story. Plus a terrific offer to subscribe to the UK’s fastest growing newspaper title The New European.Exclusive listener offer >> https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/

In this Q&A episode, Matt and Matt take on questions from you on poverty in the media, Trumps stance on abortion and Harold Wilson's love life.

How did we get to the point where troubled children have been damaged by a health system that should have protected them? How did the dogma of trans activists subsume standard medical practices? And how do those who cynically cheered them on from the sidelines sleep at night? The Two Matts discuss the Cass Report, released this week, and what it says about media, activism and the right to have an open discourse without fear of censure. Also - how movie portrayals of Amy Winehouse and Emily Maitlis both fell short.Get a FREE signed copy of James O’Briens hardback book – How they broke Britain worth £20 when you subscribe today from just £1 a week - go here 👉 https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/

How time flies when the world is on fire… a quarter of 2024 has already passed and the Matts check global progress against their expectations at New Year. It’s a grind reality check as Gaza and Ukraine go from bad to worse and Trump appears to be gaining ground on the White House. On the upside, there’ve been a bunch of cultural highlights to provide welcome distraction - not least the publication this week of Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan. “It’s like Bonfire Of the Vanities… but better” says Matt d’Ancona. Enjoy!Subscribe to the New European and get a free signed copy of James O'Brien's hardback book, How They Broke Britain (worth £20!) when you use this link >>https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/

Have the Tories hit rock bottom.. or could things get even worse? The Matts gameplay their options with outcomes ranging from disastrous to cataclysmic. In the second half, they examine the role of satire in society and ask the question: Have we all lost our sense of humour?Subscribe to the New European and get a free signed copy of James O'Brien's hardback book, How They Broke Britain (worth £20!) when you use this link >>https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/